For those who may ask what they can do to honor Neil, we have a simple request. Honor his example of service, accomplishment and modesty, and the next time you walk outside on a clear night and see the moon smiling down at you, think of Neil Armstrong and give him a wink.”

For those who may ask what they can do to honor Neil, we have a simple request. Honor his example of service, accomplishment and modesty, and the next time you walk outside on a clear night and see the moon smiling down at you, think of Neil Armstrong and give him a wink.”

He was an instrument and leading light of perhaps mankind's most impressive achievement to date.

I would compare him to Columbus or Marco Polo, but I think the accumulation of NASA and Armstrong's achievement is an order of magnitude better. Columbus and Marco Polo did magnficent things, but both merely rediscovered (or discoverd new routes) to what others alread knew.

Armstrong did something truly unique. He put a human footprint on an extraterrestrial body and no-one can seriously make a claim to having done that before him.

I hereby salute everything and everybody that lead up to Neil Armstrong's unique achievement of walking on another world.*
I'm sad I wasn't alive to see his moonwalk live and I think only a human walking on Mars can top what NASA and Armstrong and everyone else did.

I only hope I live long enough to see such a thing. My parents and my sister recall seeing Neil walking on the moon. I am truly jealous of them.

* World, planet, moon, whatever. To hell with technicalities.

Edited by Archimedes, 26 August 2012 - 02:40 AM.

"The first principle is that you must not fool yourself and you are the easiest person to fool." - Richard P. Feynman

"If people put enough excrement in one pile they think they can safely claim that there must be something other than excrement in a pile that big." - stereologist

When I hear the words 'Neil Armstrong', I see that young, smiling face - the face that took the world to the Moon. Possibly the worlds most famous man, he shunned the limelight, and one must admire his character for choosing that path. A hero in his own right and an icon for generations to come, he showed us the true meaning of courage and sacrifice, and in so doing, he has left an indelible imprint, not only on upon the Moon itself, but upon the very hearts and minds of millions.

Neil Armstrong has returned to the unknown. He takes with him the memories of billions of us who watched those grainy black and white images and heard those words: one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.

There are moments in our lives that we remember forever... One such was 20 July 1969, my 16th birthday... It was late in the evening (in my time zone) and my whole family was crowded around the TV set... The image was grainy - even by 1969 standards and really there wasn't much to see - just the high point of human civilization....

You and I are the same age...I, too, was 16 years old when Mr. Armstrong made that historic walk. Only it was my Dad that became emotional. You see, he was a scientist/engineer who, like your Mom, had seen the incredible human progress of the 20th century. I personally believe this was the high point of American society...I've never seen anything to equal it and doubt I ever will.

"Ignorance is ignorance. It is a state of mind, not an opinion." ~MID~

I think only a human walking on Mars can top what NASA and Armstrong and everyone else did.

I don't even think the first man on Mars could top it, with the moon landings no-one knew if such an endeavour was possible, even when they got there no-one was certain they could get back (Nixon had a second speech in case something went wrong up there). We know we can put a man on Mars, because of Neil Armstrong's achievements.

I really thought the man would live forever.

He walked on THE MOON for god's sake, incredible!!

Edited by Splodgenessabounds, 26 August 2012 - 11:01 AM.

"It doesn't matter if it is a black cat or a white cat. As long as it can catch mice, it's a good cat."
Deng Xiaoping

"Smokey, this is not 'Nam. This is bowling. There are rules."
Walter Sobchak - The Big Lebowski